Soldotna officer gets bitten by dog

A Soldotna police officer was bitten in the neck by a dog while investigating a criminal mischief incident on Lilly Drive on Thursday morning.

Officer Johnny Whitehead responded at about 7:20 a.m. to a report that tires on two vehicles had been slashed near a residence on Lilly Drive and was canvassing the neighborhood for anyone who might have witnessed the crime.

According to police Sgt. Todd McGillivray, Whitehead walked near the fence of a home on the street when a chocolate Labrador re-triever lunged up and bit him.

Whitehead received five stitches to close the wound and was able to return to duty, according to McGillivray.

The dog, which had a current rabies vaccination, was quarantined by Soldotna Animal Control for 10 days.

McGillivray said the dog did not have a history of biting people and the yard was posted with a "Beware of dog" sign.